The swissuniversities-funded project PHUSE (Planetary Health for Universities’ Sustainability Engagement) is a national initiative to integrate Planetary Health into health-centered study programs, teaching healthcare facilities, and higher education institutions across Switzerland.
Vision
Our vision is to enable future and current health professionals and members of Swiss HEIs to act as agents of change for the socio-ecological transformation, fostering health equity and well-being within the planetary boundaries.
Mission
PHUSE aims to empower students, educators and professionals to become advocates and drivers of the socio-ecological transformation. Therefore we’re committed to embed Planetary Health in health education by:
- Building bridges between universities, healthcare facilities, learners and educators
- Ensuring high-quality, evidence-based Planetary Health teaching
- Promoting innovative teaching methods rooted in transformative learning
- Strengthening collaboration with international initiatives and networks
- Empowering health professionals to advocate for health equity within the planet’s limits
Milestones
Build a national network for Planetary Health education
Develop a national core curriculum on Planetary Health
Create educational material for transformative Planetary Health education
Support and accelerate local institutional integration into curricula
Train Planetary Health Ambassadors
Map Planetary Health education across Switzerland
Provide recommendations for sustainable research practices in health faculties
Promote sustainable clinical practice
Members
We are a Swiss network of higher educational institutions that strive to promote transformative planetary health education for health students. Our member institutions represent more than 5’000 health students in Switzerland. As a PHUSE member you can:
• Connect with institutions across Switzerland advancing Planetary Health education
• Contribute to the development of new educational materials
• Access shared knowledge, resources, and support
The University of Basel is the leading house and coordinates the PHUSE projects. Furthermore, it develops a core curriculum on Planetary Health Education (PHE) for health care students across Switzerland. It fosters national and international exchange, supports the integration of PHE in medical and nursing programs, and facilitates a network of educators and ambassadors to ensure the long-term anchoring of transformative PHE.
Christian Abshagen
project lead
Bea Albermann
project manager
Francine Müller
local coordinator
Hannah Otto
project coordinator
The ETH Zürich develops this website to share, improve, and map teaching materials on Planetary Health Education across Switzerland. The platform enables interdisciplinary exchange and will prospectively make established educational resources accessible for educational institutions. To monitor the implementation of Planetary Health a designated mapping catalogue will be established that can be integrated in the curriculum mapping tools at each institution.
Jörg Goldhahn
local lead
Tuija Waldvogel
local coordinator
The HES-SO investigates transformative learning experiences in Planetary Health education across Switzerland by systematically comparing them with traditional course formats. It further develops an innovative serious game—co-created with students and the Geneva design school HEAD—to make Planetary Health engaging and interactive, while assessing learning outcomes, critical thinking, and motivation.
Gaël Brulé
local lead
The Swiss TPH develops case studies for Planetary Health education across Switzerland by identifying best practices in teaching hospitals. Using Q-methodology and the Choosing Wisely recommendations, it explores how Planetary Health measures can be promoted in clinical settings. The insights and case studies are distilled into key lessons for health professionals and students, strengthening their integration into teaching materials.
Mirko Winkler
local lead
Sarah Rajkumar
local coordinator
The University of Geneva broadens Planetary Health education across Switzerland to include higher education institution employees; teachers from diverse disciplines, as well as administrative and technical staff. It develops a Planetary Health Fresque including a practical guide with adapted content and translations, fostering reflection and interactivity and promoting broader systemic change.
Johanna Sommer
local lead
Oriane Lander
local coordinator
Raphaël Tornare
local coordinator
The University of Lausanne evaluates how the socio-ecological transformation of the healthcare system is understood and accepted within HEI’s. Through surveys, qualitative studies, and participatory processes at the University, they explore how research and education can adapt to Planetary Health imperatives. The results will inform recommendations for partner institutions to foster sustainability, health equity, and respect for planetary boundaries.
Nicolas Senn
local lead
Andréa Montant
local coordinator
Sarah Michel
local coordinator
Partners
Our partners are organisations and initiatives that align with the PHUSE mission and also work on planetary health education.
Are you and your organisation interested in becoming a PHUSE partner?
Advocacy
Our Advocacy Documents
The PHUSE members strongly recommend Swiss higher education institutions with health-related study programmes to establish long-term structures to sustain a Planetary Health culture. Establishing permanent paid positions within health faculties and departments serves as a fundamental step to anchor Planetary Health as a core element within the culture of health faculty or department. Our official recommendations for permanent human resources can be found in the document below: